Movement Therapy, Yoga, and Your Health
Movement Therapy, Yoga, and Your Health
Movement lies at the heart of many cultural traditions around the world and throughout history. One of the most prominent traditions is Yoga, which stems from ancient Indian philosophy. Originally a spiritual Eastern discipline, Yoga is often practiced in the Western world as a form of healing therapy. This has led researchers to study the therapeutic effects of Yoga and movement on the mind and body. Let’s take a closer look at how Yoga and Movement Therapy can support your overall health and wellness.
Yoga and Movement Therapy
Yoga is a broad term with many different meanings. When translated from Sanskrit, it means “union,” as in the union of mind, body, and soul. In the West, Yoga refers to a collection of movements, postures, and breathing techniques that promote physical and emotional wellbeing.
There’s a clear connection between Yoga, mental health, and emotional wellness. Much more than absentminded exercise, Yoga emphasizes conscious breathing, meditation, and self-awareness. This promotes deep relaxation, allowing participants to detach from the stressors they face each day. Those who practice Yoga often experience considerable growth as they gradually improve over time. This may empower and encourage them to confront other challenges in their personal and professional lives.
Yoga is also an engaging and challenging physical activity, especially for beginners. It involves carefully coordinating one’s body into various positions that may be uncomfortable at first. When performed correctly, Yoga promotes flexibility, balance, and weight loss, which can help prevent accidental injuries. It may also strengthen bones and muscles, improve cardiovascular conditioning, and lower one’s blood pressure.
Movement Therapy, also called Yoga Therapy, is the use of movement and Yoga postures to support one’s social, physical, emotional, and cognitive health. It emerged nearly one hundred years ago in the United States as an alternative form of psychotherapy. Movement Therapy takes a holistic view of the mind and body, actively seeking to maximize function, improve quality of life, and treat the whole person rather than just separate symptoms.
Benefits of Yoga and Movement Therapy
There are several noteworthy benefits of Yoga-based movement therapies. They can be performed by almost anyone to reduce pain and stress, enhance mood, and improve body image, self-esteem, and social skills. When used in conjunction with conventional medicine, they may even help patients who suffer from affective disorders like depression and anxiety.
Patients of all ages and abilities can take part in Yoga and Movement Therapy. They require no prior training, and sessions can be customized to suit any individual’s needs. Movement Therapy is safe, incredibly cost-effective, and it encourages participants to take a proactive role in supporting their mental, physical, and emotional health.
A large body of evidence suggests a strong link between the human mind and body. For instance, Yoga has been shown to have various mood-enhancing properties. This is possibly due to its effects on physical stress, inflammation, and the nervous system. Furthermore, Yoga may also improve immune function, relieve nausea, promote healing, increase energy, and reduce reported symptoms of anxiety and depression.
Yoga can also promote better regulation of one’s sympathetic nervous system. This system of nerves is responsible for our “fight-or-flight” response, and it’s activated when we’re stressed or in danger. One systematic review shows that meditation and deep-breathing exercises like those practiced in Yoga Therapy may protect cells from the damage caused by chronic stress.
Exercise Is Medicine
Stress is an unavoidable fact of life. However, chronic stress can lead to anxiety, depression, and prolonged disease. Our Movement Therapy sessions draw heavily on Yoga practices, as well as meditation, breathing exercises, and guided imagery. They’re fun, engaging, and non-invasive forms of therapy that encourage participants to take an active role in their own health. Our Movement Therapist, Marcy, will personally work with you to overcome various health challenges you may have. We hope you’ll reach out for more information or to schedule a free consultation today.
Contact Us
Aceso Total Health P.C.
7160 S. 29th St., Suite 7
Lincoln, NE 68516
402.817.4117
Based in Lincoln, NE, our patient – centered, healthcare experience is integrated, proactive and personalized, leading to a more balanced and happier you.
